Ecclesiastes 2:2

In 11 translations

BSB

I said of laughter, “It is folly,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?”

KJV

I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?

WEB

I said of laughter, “It is foolishness;” and of mirth, “What does it accomplish?”

ASV

I said of laughter, It is mad; and of mirth, What doeth it?

LSV

Of laughter I said, “Foolish!” And of mirth, “What [is] this it is doing?”

YLT

Of laughter I said, 'Foolish!' and of mirth, 'What [is] this it is doing?'

DBY

I said of laughter, Madness! and of mirth, What availeth it?

DRC

Laughter I counted error: and to mirth I said: Why art thou vainly deceived?

GNV

I saide of laughter, Thou art mad: and of ioy, What is this that thou doest?

JPS

I said of laughter: 'It is mad'; and of mirth: 'What doth it accomplish?'

LXXE

I said to laughter, Madness: and to mirth, Why doest thou this?

Word by word Hebrew · tap a word

Words in brackets are English the glossers added; the Hebrew has no word for them, and they can carry a choice of tense or meaning.

Original-language editions

WLC

לִשְׂח֖וֹק אָמַ֣רְתִּי מְהוֹלָ֑ל וּלְשִׂמְחָ֖ה מַה־זֹּ֥ה עֹשָֽׂה׃

LXX-Br

Τῷ γέλωτι εἶπα, περιφορὰν, καὶ τῇ εὐφροσύνῃ, τί τοῦτο ποιεῖς;

In the reference works topics that cite this verse

From public-domain Bible dictionaries and topical indexes (1884–1915).

Cross-references most cited first

• Proverbs 14:13Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in sorrow.
• Ecclesiastes 7:2–6It is better to enter a house of mourning than a house of feasting, since death is the end of every man, and the living should take this to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, for a sad countenance is good for the…
• 1 Peter 4:2–4Consequently, he does not live out his remaining time on earth for human passions, but for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past carrying out the same desires as the Gentiles: living in…
• Isaiah 22:12–13On that day the Lord GOD of Hosts called for weeping and wailing, for shaven heads and the wearing of sackcloth. But look, there is joy and gladness, butchering of cattle and slaughtering of sheep, eating of meat and…
• Amos 6:3–6You dismiss the day of calamity and bring near a reign of violence. You lie on beds inlaid with ivory, and lounge upon your couches. You dine on lambs from the flock and calves from the stall. You improvise songs on…

From the OpenBible.info cross-reference set (votes from readers; not every link is a quotation or allusion).